“I’m really proud of the guys for finishing the season strong,” Junior Apaches head coach Garrett Hill said. “They played extremely well these last two games and beat two really good teams. They did a great job of being coach-able and did everything we asked them to do to prepare for the game.”

Pottsville took an early lead, 12-6 in the first quarter and never looked back. At halftime they were up 30-13. Dardanelle outscored the Junior Apaches 18-7 in the third quarter but still trailed 37-31.

“It was frustrating to not be at our best in this one,” Dardanelle head coach Jared White said. “I give Pottsville a lot of credit for that. They have some really good junior high players over there. I’m proud of my team for competing the way they did.”

Leading scorers for the Junior Sand Lizards were Daniel Craig with 12 points and Chris Kershner with 10.

“This year was more of what the kids made it,” White said. “We lost a very important player to our team before the season started and we had to have so many difference kids step up in his absence. They did just that. We played more eighth-graders than any other team in conference did and I’m glad they got this opportunity to be a part of it and I think they will come back next year hungrier and I look for some of those ninth-graders to fit in immediately as sophomores.”

Leading scorers for the Junior Apaches were Peyton lasher with 13 points, Josh Dugger with 11, Kyle Reynolds with nine, Cole McKown at eight, Alec Metz with five and Jake Dugger with three.

“They [the Junior Apaches] really shared the ball well and really worked as a team,” Hill said.

“Everyone contributed. We had trouble rebounding in the third quarter and Dardanelle did a good job of finishing plays and making shots to get back in the game but I’m proud of the guys for not quitting and finishing in the third quarter. I couldn’t be more proud of the season they had.”

Hector JB 49, Bigelow 31

HAVANA — The Hector Junior Wildcats raced to a district championship with a 49-31 win over Bigelow on Saturday.

The two teams stalemated at the end of the first quarter, 15-15 but the Junior Wildcats (20-5) went on a 15-4 run in the second for a 30-19 lead going into the half.

Bigelow (20-5) put up a stronger effort in the third but were still outscored and trailed 49-31at the close of the third quarter. Leading scorers for Hector were Rustin Hays with 23 points, Tanner Gaines with 14 and Dalton Day with four.

Hector JG 28,Conway St. Joseph 16

HAVANA — The Hector Junior Lady Wildcats offed Conway Saint Joseph in the 2A-4 District championship game on Saturday in Havana.

Hector led 9-4 at the close of the first quarter and widened their lead to 16-10 at the half. After the third quarter it was 24-14. Leading scorers for Hector were Laken Stanek with seven points, followed by Cassidy Haley and Darci Fountain each with six points.

Dover trailed 10-15 at the end of the first quarter and 31-25 at the half. Still trailing 43-35 at the close of the third quarter, the Lady Pirates rallied in the fourth with a 14-1 run to take the championship.

Leading scorers were Carlee Williams with 21 points, Kaitlin Meador with 18 and Chesney Myers with seven. Leading rebounders were Williams with 10 and Laken Beavers with seven.

Meador and Myers led in steals with three a piece and Taylor Sinyard had five assists.